Keeping The New Year 'New' - Engage to innovate

05/01/2012 12:23 pm

Happy 'New' Year?

So despite the tricky economy, the ‘how to’ of keeping staff ‘happy’ is far more familiar to organisations than the ‘how to’ of keep things ‘new’ in 2012. 

Happy employees and the ability to create ‘new’ products and services are both key components of effective corporate reputation management.  But if, like us, you’re weary of the word ‘innovation’ and turned off by the talk of process and systems involved in creating new things, necessary as they may be, then we have some good news.

The ability to ‘create’ products and services no longer rests solely with an organisation.  Really?  Well, almost.

While an organization must be fit to nurture and develop ideas in to products or services, this is where the hard work ends.  The key to inspired creations comes through real engagement and conversation.  Not just engagement with staff but engagement with all stakeholders, the full 360 degrees, each and every one of them who has a relationship with your organisation. 

Ideas are there, already tested, waiting to be ‘picked’. The key to an organisation’s ability to create, is held in its ability to engage thoroughly and to listen acutely. We love Charles Leadbeater, one of the country’s leading thinkers in this area and this outstanding 'We Think' video captures it wonderfully.

So from us, to you, here’s to 2012, a year of happiness and all things new.